Derby edged onto 46 points after a hard fought draw against second from bottom Southampton. 

The first half of this evening kickoff was a gnarly affair with neither side taking control of the game.  Hulse and Teale both came close at times for the Rams but neither were able to keep their attempts on target.  For the Saints Jason Euell shot beyond the Bywater’s far post, whilst Saganowski forced the Derby keeper into a save with a shot not long before half time. 

After the interval the Rams came out brightly with a series of swift attacking movements.  This play however was not to bear fruits and Derby found themselves behind on 59 minutes to the most bizarre of goals.  Jason Euell nodded Gillet’s corner down for Chris Perry to smash his shot into the underside of the cross bar, the ball bounced back into play only to hit the unlucky Todd and rebound into the Derby net. 

In an effort to find the elusive equaliser Derby brought Steve Davies on in place of Hulse.  Davies looked bright from the off; making an immediate impact with a looping header forcing a save on the line from Southampton’s Davis, and shortly after finding the net to even things up.  Albrechtsen found himself in a shooting position after a lay off from Savage, however his scuffed shot was driven across the box instead of towards the net, it was Davies who reacted first blasting the ball home from less than six yards. 

Davies thought he had won the game for the Rams late on.  His darting run took him past Jan-Paul Saeijs before unleashing a beautiful curling shot which having beat the Saint’s keeper was denied by the woodwork as it rebounded off the inside of the far post.